New online community "sparks" green entrepreneurs

Do you have a business idea for reducing greenhouse gas emissions? Submit it to ClimateSpark!

As an entrepreneur, you may have already discovered how social media enhances the way you do business. For those in the cleantech space who haven’t yet had a taste of what social media can do for you, this is a cool new initiative to “spark” your interest.

ClimateSpark uses social media for a cleantech venture capital contest sponsored by the Toronto Atmospheric Fund. ClimateSpark allows the community to help change our future by supporting the green innovations that they believe in most.

Here’s how it works. Applicants upload their elevator pitch to ClimateSpark. The online community of entrepreneurs, scholars, scientists, angel investors, service providers and government officials review the innovations and rank them using weighted scoring. Nine finalists are selected for the final round and given specific challenges. The community and experts once again get a chance to comment and rate submissions. The winner will be announced at the ClimateSpark Summit in February 2011 and receive the $10,000 prize. All nine finalists will pitch their ideas live to a panel of experts and investors with approximately $15 million available for investment.

If you have a business idea for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, submit it to ClimateSpark! You may receive financing out of it, or at the very least you’ll get noticed by a like-minded crowd with extended connections. ClimateSpark is the perfect place for you to get advice on your green business ideas and create networks of support. If you’re not looking to submit an idea, join anyway! By commenting on submissions, you can be a part of selecting the top business ideas. You might notice that MaRS client, Skymeter, has already submitted their idea that has implications for pay-per-use driving. Go ahead, give them some feedback or vote them up!

Social media has changed the way in which innovations go to market. It allows people with brilliant ideas to collaborate more easily, helping shape a greener future together. What are you waiting for? Get in on the action! For more information visit www.climatespark.ca.

Sarah Lenarcic

Sarah helps make sure our cleantech clients have a great experience with our cleantech practice at MaRS. See more…